Pages

Thursday, December 29, 2016

When it comes to art, Adore Your Walls art consultant (and art lover) Liz Lidgett has a lot to offer in terms of great tips and guidance for building your own collection of original art. Today Liz welcomes us into her cheerful home and allows us a look at her own collection of artwork, not to mention she shares some of her expert art advisory tips with us!

Photography by Rick Lozier and Liz Lidgett

Jacquin: What are some of the more unique art requests that you've seen in your career? Are buyers wanting to feature sculptures in their homes? This is one of my favorite artistic elements in residential designs, sculptural artwork in the home!

Liz: I’ve seen a lot of blank walls in my career and the request I hear time and time again is how to fill an extra-large wall. I work with my clients through Adore Your Walls to decide on the perfect piece of art for their style, space and budget. Sometimes this means a gallery wall—sometimes it means one large piece— sometimes it means a mural. I do also love finding sculpture for homes, especially sculpture that can hang on a wall. It’s such an unexpected twist to design.

Jacquin: What do you tell people about art as an investment?

Liz: My number one tip to my clients is buy art that you love. Art can become an investment but, in my opinion, you should buy art because you connect with it and want it in your home. The investment piece is not something I encourage my clients to focus on.

Liz: This week marks four years since I launched my business. I started the company because I felt there was a real need in the Midwest and in Iowa, specifically, for art advisory that can help with a variety of budgets and styles, plus one that is transparent about the art buying process. Starting a company was one of the greatest things I’ve ever done and I haven’t looked back. I’ve been able to expand the business to an online art advisory site, AdoreYourWalls.com, where I work with clients around the country. I also have worked with major brands like Better Homes and Gardens and Apartment Therapy for content creation and video hosting that focuses on affordable art.

Jacquin: How much money should someone put aside to begin a proper art collection? Do you have any tips or suggestions for newer collectors?

Liz: You don’t have to be a millionaire to start an art collection. I have many clients that have started their collections with limited edition prints, and then worked up to original, one-of-a-kind works of art. I’ve helped clients purchase artwork starting at $100 all the way up to 5 or 6 figures. My point being, you can start an art collection by putting away just a small percentage of your budget each month. There are so many talented artists working at a variety of price points.

Jacquin: At what point, or in what circumstance, do you think it's important to have your artwork appraised?

Liz: Great question. First, work with your insurance to see how much it is to put an additional rider on your policy for the artwork, the availability and cost varies by company. I have several clients that like to have anything over $1,000 appraised. For some, they want it to be at a much higher figure to have its own specific rider. Then have an appraiser update your information at least every 5 years. For many companies, within a certain time period the receipt of the purchase of the artwork may be enough to work with initially. Again, it’s important to find out what’s needed from your insurance and to also work with a qualified appraiser on a plan for what is specifically needed.

Jacquin: How was your experience decorating your home and selecting artwork for your space?

Liz: It’s a never-ending process. I use my home like a lab and experiment on projects before I recommend it to a client. This varies from installation tips, to framing, to color stories. Our home has become this wonderful playground. I am so passionate about what I do and my brain never seems to turn off from thinking about design, so it’s fun to spend some time working on my own space for a change.

Jacquin: What is your favorite work of art in your home right now?

Liz: I have loved the pink sculpture above our fireplace by Michael Peter Cain since the first time I laid eyes on it. It just seems to always glow and I love finding new and unexpected places for it.

Jacquin: Tell us about your dream client! What does your business have in store for the new year?

Jacquin: I have been truly blessed with wonderful clients. I love working with clients where they are willing to do something fun and different. I love making a statement with my work and I think that’s when it is most successful. I don’t want to play it safe. Because I have a passion for helping people start their collections with affordable works, I’d love to work with larger retailers to help curate a line of affordable, stylish artwork. In the new year, watch my Instagram @LizLidgett to see some of our new and fun projects we’ll be working on! It’s fun to take people behind the scenes of our work and introduce them to new artists.

Monday, December 26, 2016

Things have been incredibly busy with an exciting redecorating project at home (more on that later!), but I'm glad to be back with a new post for you. Today we head to Toronto, Canada where artist Ojo Agi creates gorgeous portrait artwork. I hope you enjoy her artwork as much as I do!

Stay abreast on the contemporary works of Ojo Agi by following along on Instagram or visiting her website Art by Ojo. You can also explore more artists from my Artist Spotlight serieshere. Until next time...Ciao!P.S. I'm planning new blog content for Interiors by Jacquin! What is your favorite blog series or topic to read about here on the blog? I would love your feedback as I plan for 2017. Comment below and let me know what your favorite blog topics are. Thanks!

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Lately I've had my eye on raffia and grasscloth surfaced furniture as I makeover my bedroom decor. I love the nice texture raffia and grasscloth add to a space and I also enjoy the relaxed, coastal aesthetic of raffia. I'm currently looking to add raffia nightstands to my bedroom to add a bit of that resort, vacation vibe to my own space. I rounded up the best design inspiration featuring luxurious raffia furniture just to sell you on this awesome furniture option. I have also compiled my 10 must-have raffia furniture selections available for purchase right now.

If you're wondering about the durability of this material. Raffia is actually quite resilient. Raffia fibers come from the Raffia palm tree and the material is used in all sorts of products from heavy-duty baskets, to furniture, twine and rope (and more!). When your furniture is covered in raffia there is generally several coats of lacquer applied first to protect the surface from stains and damage, all while the raffia still maintains its characteristic texture.

You can also find raffia furniture accented with nailheads or even richly-dyed raffia decor options. Another raffia trend that's coming back is simple raffia beds in all of their textured glory (see below). These classic beds can be found in antique form or newly designed from brands like Serena & Lily. Raffia-covered furniture is a fantastic way to move away from basic wood furniture throughout your entire house. In fact, the mixture of your current wood furniture with raffia-based decor will be a great blend of coastal meets modern design. Keep reading for my top selections for shopping raffia furniture for your own space!

Monday, December 19, 2016

I hope your holiday season has been off to a lovely start. I thought I'd take today to show you some of what I've been working on this season. My signature decorating style is warm and contemporary with artful pops of color and I love when clients allow me to use bold colors in their interior designs. The designs I'm sharing with you today definitely have a healthy dose of color and illustrate that you don't have to go overboard with color to have a huge impact. With a few carefully curated pops of color I can accomplish transforming your space with an artful edge. If you like what you see, you're in luck! I'm offering a special discount for in-home decorating and e-design services for the month of December 2016! I now offer personal shopping as a new service, as well.Here's the decorating deal!

Now back to what I've been working on lately...

First up is a client located in the Dallas, TX region who wanted their entire home decorated by Interiors by Jacquin. I convinced them to included this saturated, rich blue in their living room design which has turned this family into certified color-lovers! I matched this deep blue with an accent wall in their dining room, as well. This is just a sampling of my recent work but some great examples of what I can do to transform a client's home.

Living room design by Interiors by Jacquin.Next up is a client out of Washington, DC who wanted a space that expressed her creativity yet had a sophisticated feel. I'll be sharing her living room design with you later this winter, but I thought you'd love to see her colorful bathroom design in the meantime.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Want to know an easy secret for adding contemporary style to your home? It's decorating with the color black. Adding a touch of black to your space can be as easy as buying a can of paint or buying a few carefully selected decorative items, depending on the look you're going for. Here are four tried-and-true ideas for decorating with black that will absolutely transform your space to an amazing contemporary design. Everything you need to go from drab to contemporary & fab.... starring the color black!

Idea #4: Select black shelving for your home or paint your current built-ins and bookcases a crisp shade of black. Utilize a flat latex paint in black or even try a high-gloss black paint for added drama. For smaller pieces of furniture like the one shown below (on the right), you can transform your piece more easily by using black spray paint.

The color black is amazingly effective at adding drama and contemporary sophistication to any space, yet is often under utilized. And despite being a lover of color, I've found that black truly helps ground a design. So take these design secrets involving decorating with black and give it a try in your space.

Which of these techniques for decorating with black are you most interested to try in the new year?

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday weekend! I am gearing up for the new year and I am so excited to bring you even more of my original Fashion meets Interiors series in 2017. Today I've invited Canadian fashion blogger Britney Wilson to share her interpretation of this luxurious and retro interior space. I must stay that I love the look she came up with. I'll let Britney take it away from here. You'll love her chic style!

Hi,
Lovelies! My name is Britney Wilson, and I am the creator
of the fashion and lifestyle blog, Pretty Little Hangers. Toronto
is the city I call home, but I’m notorious for traveling to exotic
destinations around the world to capture unique content to share with
my readers. Pretty Little Hangers started as a creative outlet where
I could express my love of fashion through inspirational looks that I
personally styled; however, within a little over a year; PLH
transitioned into an online destination for not only styling tips but
trend guides, beauty hacks, and enriching lifestyle tutorials as
well.

When
Jacquin invited me to participate in the Fashion Meets Interiors
segment on her blog, I was delighted to share my thoughts on the
interior space of my choice. If you asked me whether or not I think
fashion influences interior design trends, my response would be
absolutely!

After
reviewing this interior space, I was captivated by the beautiful
patterns, colors and gold accents. Since this space has a retro 70s
flair, I knew these velvet culottes would be the perfect piece to
convey this style. I combined hints of plum along with a stylish
keyhole blouse and blazer draped over my shoulders to complete my
chic office-friendly look
and accessorized with stunning gold accented pieces.

I was captivated by the beautiful patterns, rich colors, and gold accents. Since this space has a retro 70s flair, I knew these velvet culottes would be the perfect piece to convey this style.

This
interior
design is
the perfect example of how fashion and interior design trends
correlate with one another. Incorporating gold as an elegant accent
piece is common in both interior design and fashion. The gold accent
pieces and hardware in this office space help to create a polished
yet stylish look. Using
gold for ornamentation and stylish accents is a timeless element of
fashion. If you get a chance to read the latest issue of
Architectural Digest or Vogue, you may notice this distinct trend.
Textiles, color palettes, patterns, accessories and hardware merge in
an innovative yet effortless way,
blending the design element of
fashion and
interior design.

Sunday, December 4, 2016

In a world of beautiful textiles and patterns I find myself wondering about how these fabrics and unique designs are manufactured. Today our designer spotlight lands on Caroline Cecil of Caroline Cecil Textiles. Caroline shares her creative motivation with us and an inside perspective on more traditional textile production methods. She has also been involved in some exciting community initiatives, which we chat about below. Follow along as Caroline's gives Interiors by Jacquin readers a peek at her newest collection called 'Balinesia'.

Jacquin: How has working
in textile design pushed you creatively?

Caroline: I’ve spent the
past 11 years of my career learning about all of the different ways
you can put patterns onto things--from fabric to towels to rugs to
shower curtains to wrapping paper and everything else in between.
Throughout the process I’ve learned many different techniques and
applications which have pushed me to evolve creatively. The
limitations that arrive based on the selected printing method have
really pushed me to be more creative in my approach. For example,
with screen printing the more color we print, the more expensive it
becomes. So within these confines we find ways to create gorgeous
single color prints that still provide depth, texture, and narrative.

Jacquin: Tell us about
your journey launching your brand, Caroline Cecil Textiles. What has
been the hardest part?

Caroline: I wanted to have my
own company ever since I was a little girl. My grandmother was a
watercolor artist and made a living selling her paintings at a time
when it was very unusual for women to be independent and have their
own business. My father was also an entrepreneur who started many
businesses throughout his life, those experiences are at the
foundation of why I always wanted to launch a brand.

I’d say the
hardest part of launching Caroline Cecil Textiles was the process of
building something from scratch. The journey of bringing something to
life that starts in your head and turn it into a full fledged
business that includes a sales team, products, sampling, an online
presence and operations has been overwhelming at times. The hardest
part is the balancing act that’s required once the company starts
coming to life. Managing competing priorities like product
development and branding while always keeping long-term goals that
support growth in mind requires constant learning and strategizing.

Caroline Cecil's sketches for textile designs.Jacquin: What's an average
day like for you, Caroline?

Caroline: In the morning I
always try to take time to make breakfast for my husband as
well as play with our little Pomeranian and Chihuahua. After that
it’s off to the races - answering emails, reading industry news and
outlining the focus for the day ahead. Lately the team and I have
been expanding our showroom presence, so a lot of my days have been
spent outlining which designs are going into what showrooms,
overseeing production, coordinating shipping with our Operations
Lead, and talking with our PR team at REVELE. I also spend a great
deal of time looking at the travel calendar and supporting brand
growth through online marketing. My days are predominantly left
brained, so I always carve out time to paint or cook or do something
creative to balance things out. I find that time to be SO important.

Caroline's fluffy dog in front of her vibrant textile design.

Jacquin: I love that you
worked helping budding young creatives through Designer Camp. It really sounds like a fantastic program for the
youth. How was your experience? What do you think the kids who
participated got out of it?

Caroline: I absolutely loved
collaborating with Designer Camp and look forward to doing it again
next year! The founders of Designer Camp are very hands-on and they
were so supportive of my ideas for the textile workshop. It was the
first time they ever had a textile designer participate in the
program and it was exciting to see how interested students were in
the new category. Textile design is something most people don’t
think of when you’re asked what you want to be when you grow-up.
Considering how did that pattern get on that shirt is not
something young artists usually think about. This is one of the
reasons I love mentoring young people who are discovering it for the
first time. I am so happy to have the chance to give back to the
creative community as I remember how important it was for me when I
was growing up. I still remember the influential people and artists
who really inspired me to explore my creative voice. It’s great to
have a chance to do that for today’s youth.

Jacquin: How have you utilized your local creative community as you've grown your business?

Caroline: Los Angeles is an incredible place to own a company and design a product because it offers many different kinds of resources. Being around so many creative people every day has offered a lot of inspiration. Los Angeles has a very expressive and visual community. People put a great deal of thought into how they present themselves and I find that to be very inspiring. In addition, I have the pleasuring of knowing a vast network of manufacturers who constantly inspire me. Being in Los Angeles has given me the opportunity to see the manufacturing process across many different industries which i find completely fascinating. My line of fabrics simply wouldn’t exist without the people who print our fabrics and sew our samples and I truly value those partnerships.

Caroline Cecil painting an original textile design.

Jacquin: What is one thing about about the textile design process from production to marketing that many people may not know about, or may be surprised by?

Caroline: I think people would be surprised by the amount of labor involved in producing a line of textiles. Fabric doesn’t weave or knit itself! While machines have industrialized the process, it’s still a very tactile manufacturing process. At Caroline Cecil Textiles, we work with artisans to produce our line. Most of our ground cloths are imported from Belgium and come from a mill that has been weaving linen for centuries. Our designs are then hand printed onto the linen at our printing facility in San Francisco. The process takes a very long time and it’s a very old fashioned way to print fabric, but I believe it yields the most beautiful quality, one that mass manufacturing simply cannot match. In general, most people probably don’t think about fiber content or weave structure or whether or not something was yarn-dyed. I think most of the world of textiles would be surprising to people!

Caroline Cecil textile swatches from her 'Balinesia' collection.

Jacquin: What's on your life bucket list?

Caroline: I’ve always dreamt
of traveling the world and documenting the different textile process
from different cultures. For a few years now I’ve wanted to tour
different mills across the world-- lace making and the Chanel textile
factory in France, linen production in Belgium, block printing in
India, indigo dyeing in Japan, back-strap weaving in Guatemala. I’d
love to document the process and make it into a video series and
coffee table book!